IMPHAL, August 7 � The Manipur Cabinet has approved an action plan to tackle the problems being faced by cultivators in the State due to insufficient rainfall.
�The Cabinet has approved an action plan to supplement irrigation facilities in the State through distribution of 400 numbers of pump sets to farmer societies in rainfall deficit areas,� said Sumant Singh, Secretary to Chief Minister, in a press release here.
�It further approved to support Rabi crops in regions where sowing has suffered by taking up an ambitious plan for supporting cultivation of rabi maize, pea, mustard, wheat, hybrid paddy in approximately 34,500 acres of area in the State through distribution of high yielding variety of seeds, fertilizers, chemicals and imparting training to farmers.�
The State Cabinet meeting which took the decision was chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Monday evening.
The meeting also reviewed the rainfall situation and the prevailing drought like situation in the State.
It noted that though there has been some improvement in rainfall during the last 10 days, paddy sowing has suffered in 30 per cent of the total cultivable area.
The Cabinet also directed the State Agriculture department to closely monitor the rainfall and agriculture conditions in the State.
Demanding immediate announcement of drought in the State, Manipur Loumi Lup, a farmers body has sought help to make small dams on the nearby rivers for irrigation purpose besides issuing water pump sets to the needy farmers.
Though the State recorded deficient rainfall of about 300 mm compared to the previous year, some places in the hill districts such as Tamenglong and Senapati have reportedly received enough rain.
